The Fall of Brekhan

Mass Combat Logistics

As written the logistics rules in Mass Combat provide a nebulous logistics force. The cost for raising such a force for an element is roughly equal to the cost of the element itself. In the case of a marching army, this is reasonable. For an army garrisoned in a prosperous city, the Logistics Strength (LS) needed to provide for that force is much lower.

Every element has a required LS that represents the ability of the army to move supplies, food, and pay from where they are produced or purchased to the troops who are going to use them. There are several classifications that affect the LS requirement of the troops.

Speed of Movement

Stationary: The army is at a standstill. This may be troops defending a location, a gathering point for forces, or simply an army waiting for further orders. If the army is stationary for at least a month, multiply LS required by 0.5. This represents an army camp that is well ordered to reduce wastage, well structured and reliable supply trains, and reduced supply consumption from camp set up and teardown. Elements that have just been raised are Stationary by default.

Half March: The army is on the march, but traveling at a reduced speed to reduce their impact on the logistics network that supports them. If the army is at Half March or slower for the month, multiply LS required by 0.75 and half distance traveled by the army over a period of time. This represents an army that is taking time to collect supplies, reduces marching time in exchange for bolstering supply trains, and reduces material consumption.

Full March: The army is on the march, traveling at a standard pace. Do not modify LS required by a unit while at Full March, but it may travel it’s full speed.

Forced March: An army may be pushed to it’s maximum speed by straining it’s logistics networks. Only the most important supplies are carried by the troops, camp supplies are left behind to be scavenged and redeployed, and significant effort is made to clear debris or make paths ahead of the advancing army. Multiply LS requirements by 2 and movement speed by 1.5. Troops traveling at a Forced March are frequently dropped to low maintenance to reduce their LS requirement. At low TL this may be the fastest way to move troops across large stretches of land. This is in addition to the penalties listed for a Forced March in Mass Combat.

Distance to a Supporting City

Inside: An army stationed inside a city has drastically reduced LS requirement, owing to the non-existent supply lines and ability for the civilian sector to provide services. Multiply the LS required by an army inside a city by 0.2. Logisitics consists of only the bare minimum overhead to ensure equipment is sent to the troops, and soldiers may be expected to pick up their own gear and report to a central location for pay. This is appropriate for city guards, an occupying army, or troops gathering for a future expedition.

Half Weeks March: An army is always traveling within half a weeks march of a city, and may frequently purchase or pick up supplies. If an army is able to travel city to city every week, they have reduced logistics requirements. Multiply LS required by 0.5. Logistics consist of supply carts, forward purchasers, and a planning division in addition to quartermasters and accountants to distribute equipment and pay. This is also the appropriate level for troops who frequently leave a city, performing scouting operations several days away from their base of supplies.

Two Weeks March: An army that can travel between cities once every month must bring more supplies with them, but can still rely on resupply stops to replenish them and short supply trains to bring materials. Multiply LS required by 0.75. Many armies on the march in civilized lands qualify for this discount.

Two Months March: An army that is operating far away from a source of supply must carry most of it’s equipment with it, establish long supply trains, and be prepared to expend logistical strength repairing and re-purposing supplies. Multiply LS required by 1. Armies extending themselves into uncivilized lands or through previously enemy occupied territory usually qualify for this level.

Longer: An army with an even longer supply train than two months requires a small moving city to provide finished goods, scavenge food and materials, and pay for civilian support. Multiply LS required by 2. Armies with this length of supply frequently end up falling into low maintenance.

City Support Limits

A city or town can only provide support for so many troops before it’s industrial capabilities are exhausted. By default, a city or town can support 1 LS for every 50 people. Thus a village of 50 may be able to support 1 element of medium infantry as city guard (LS 6, Stationary x0.5, Inside x 0.2, = LS 0.6), but would have to purchase outside supply if they wanted to maintain more than one. If a city cannot provide supply for one army by itself, there are two options. First, the army may split it’s supply purchasing up between multiple cities. Divide the LS required between each city, starting with the closest, until all LS is provided. Second, if there is time to establish permanent industry, money can be offered to expand the military sector of a city or town. This costs 50k for every extra 1LS the city or town will provide. Additionally, the LS provided can not grow by more than 10% each month. Finally, if the additional LS is not utilized it will cost 5k each month to maintain or will disband at a rate of 10% each month until it reaches it’s previous default amount.

If you are not in a position to put in priority orders (such as being the lord, bribing the merchants, ect) assume that 50% of a town or cities military capacity is used by people other than you at the moment. If the city is at war, increase this to 90%.

Any supplies that can take a water path (either by river, sea, or lake) reduces the distance by a factor of 4, and by default a port can handle 10x more LS passing through it than it could support by itself.